September 05 2011
Joss Whedon's advice for getting through high school.
He provides four very important rules.
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gossi | September 05, 12:17 CET
Simon | September 05, 12:24 CET
[ edited by Tonya J on 2011-09-05 21:34 ]
Tonya J | September 05, 12:34 CET
I'm almost 30 now. It's taken me almost twice the length it took joss to get it. Be yourself. Other people (or corporations, governments, society) will try to make you something you might not be. That's their power. Your power is to say 'No'. That will get you displeasure, and respect, in almost equal measures.
gossi | September 05, 12:35 CET
Mitholas | September 05, 12:36 CET
Joss, you couldn't have said this a few years ago? Would have come in super handy for me.
I was very much knowledgeable about Rule 1, failed horribly for the most part at Rule 2 - a girl who doesn't follow fashion or use the word hot? what? - until I found a few who followed Rule 1 that I felt safe around, and it took me three of four years to finally understand Rule the Most.
This is fantastic. Everyone should read this.
Ceribri | September 05, 12:39 CET
EddieBuck | September 05, 12:39 CET
But I'm forwarding it to my nephew.
I try telling him he should treat High School like an all you can eat buffet. It's pretty much the last time so much will be available for free & he should take as much as he can.
I bet he listens to me as much as I would have.
NYPinTA | September 05, 12:42 CET
I can't help but feel that being able to live in your own skin is greatly helped along by having one or more awesome parents. Which we know Joss did.
Much love, j. Much love. Always.
Kiba | September 05, 12:49 CET
brinderwalt | September 05, 12:52 CET
embers | September 05, 13:05 CET
Giles_314 | September 05, 13:22 CET
This must have (1) sucked (2) prepared Joss to write about same-but-different worlds, since Riverdale Country School (if it's Wikipedia page is to be believed) is a fairly exclusive educational institution as well. (And Sarah Michelle Gellar went there too!)
<3 the whole same-but-different theme about making your way in the brave (scared) new (old) world, too. You can only connect with others if you be yourself. Otherwise it's a Dollhouse engagement.
[ edited by Pointy on 2011-09-06 01:43 ]
Pointy | September 05, 14:45 CET
MovieMark | September 05, 14:57 CET
Madhatter | September 05, 16:48 CET
A year or so later I realised my fellow classmates liked me when I did something bad. Very bad. Okay I blew the electricity to the entire school. While in class. Watched by thirty other kids. And no one ever squealed on me.
That was cool.
Funny, my brother was telling me about his schooldays literally yesterday, and he did exactly what Joss did, moved from (a Canadian) High School to a British boarding school. He too was totally unprepared for all the rules, like if you went out one weekend you couldn't go out the next, and so on. Watch John Cleese in Meaning Of Live explain to his class that "If you are getting a haircut then see Matron after lunch before writing your letter home unless..." and accept that my brother says it was exactly like that.
zz9 | September 05, 17:03 CET
sumogrip | September 05, 17:34 CET
IrrationaliTV | September 05, 17:50 CET
silent knight | September 05, 19:19 CET
Check it out - Joss Whedon is the Tyrion Lannister of real life.
Kairos | September 05, 20:04 CET
Sigfodr | September 05, 20:13 CET
Wish I'd had this article when I was dumped into a boarding school in high school.
Another rule I know to be true: Your whole life in a new school can be determined by who you go to lunch with on the first day.
FloralBonnet | September 05, 21:57 CET
marvelknight616 | September 05, 22:16 CET
PS: Kairos, you made me laugh with the loudness.
[ edited by gossi on 2011-09-06 08:20 ]
gossi | September 05, 23:12 CET
Niels van Eekelen | September 06, 03:48 CET
ardentdelerium | September 06, 05:40 CET
The Do That Girl | September 06, 06:16 CET
hann23 | September 06, 06:23 CET
And even before I read Kairos' cool comment, Whedon's quote about "it's about power" totally had me thinking of Game of Thrones. :)
Saturn Girl | September 06, 09:20 CET
As for my my best advice: never forget that it WILL end.
BreathesStory | September 06, 10:32 CET
Ahh, the 70s.
Willowy | September 06, 13:06 CET
Great little piece from Joss here. Only wish I could have read his words of wisdom when I was at school.
Vandelay | September 06, 13:20 CET
You've filled my heart with tiny knitted joy. I remember when the knit/crochet bunch was trying really hard to bring Joss and that website together for an interview, but never saw the result.
FloralBonnet | September 06, 14:43 CET
Like With Pie | September 07, 12:35 CET